In late 19th-century Paris, Henri Rousseau, a self-taught artist, created this formal group portrait, a common type of painting used to commemorate specific groups or professions. Painted in 1893, the work depicts about fifteen men in dark military jackets and white trousers, many sporting moustaches, posing with a large green cannon. The inscription "22e Batterie 4e Artillerie" is visible on the cannon's wheel, identifying their unit. They are arranged in various stances, some seated, some standing, against a backdrop of lush green foliage and a clear blue sky, with swords and rifles prominently displayed. Rousseau's distinctive naive style gives the scene a charming